Automatic car-lift.



No. 804,950. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

- G. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC CAR LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 804,950. PATENTED NOV. 21,-1905. G. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC GAR LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1a, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Grant/[0201a 6,

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

G. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC GAR LIFT.

APPLICATION FIL'ED AUG.18, 1905.

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wvewbo'z Grantjfolmes PATE NTED NOV. 21, 1905.

G. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC GAR LIFT. urnionmn nun AUG.18, 1905.

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GRANT HOLMES, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, AssIoNORTO ROBERTIIOLMES &BROTHERS, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

AUTOMATIC CAR-LIFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.,

Application filed August 18, 1905. Serial No. 274,714,

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANT HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dan ville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticGar-Lifts, of which the following is a specification, reference be inghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

. This invention relates to automatic carlifts, being a mechanismparticularly devised for the purpose of automatically handling emptyears at the bottom of a mine-shaft, although capable of use in otherconnections.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and eflicientmechanism which will automatically handle the empty cars as they aredelivered at the bottom of the mine-shaft, dispensing with the servicesof man and animals in the handling of these cars at this point, themechanism being economical and durable by reason of its low cost ofoperation and relatively slight wear of the parts, due to the fact thatthe mechanism is normally stationary and operates only during the periodof time when a car is actually being handled by it.

To these and other ends my invention consists in certain novel features,which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly pointout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a structureembodying my invention in one form, the lift being shown as a doublelift embodying the mechanism in duplicate as it is organized for use ina mine having a hoisting apparatus employing two hoisting-cages movingin opposite directions. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a horizonalsection of the mine at the bottom thereof, the hoisting-shaft andgravity switch-back, and my improved car-lift cooperating therewith.Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of one of the lifts. Fig. I is a sectionalview taken on the line 00 a" of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating anautomatic stop for holding the car on the lift. V I

My improved lift may be contructed single where a single hoisting-cageis employed or double where two hoisting-cages are employ ed, as 'shownin Figs. 1 and ,2 of the accompanying drawings. 4 Since the double liftis, however, practicallya duplication of the single I lift, I shallfirst describe the constructionof the single lift. This comprisesa fixedtracksection 1, to which is hinged at 2 a movable track-section 3,having its free end portion 4 arranged at an angle to its body or mainportion.

5 indicates an upright frame composed of upright members 6, which arepreferably connected at the top and bottom by'cross-pieces 7 and 8,respectively. The hinged track-section 3 extends through this uprightframe between the side membersor uprights 6 thereof and is free to movevertically therein, being guided by a cross bar or tie 9, forming a partof said track-section and having its ends guided in curved ways 10,supported on the inner sides of the uprights 6,. To each end of the bar9 there is connected a chain or other flexible connection 11, and thesechains pass over guide-pulleys 12, supported on the top cross-piece 7,and have their ends connected to the piston-rod 13 of a piston 14, whichtravels in a vertical cylinder 15, located at one side of the frame 5. Ihave shown said cylinder as supported from said frame by means ofbrackets 16. Any suitable motor fluid under pressure may be used toactuate the piston 14: in the cylinder 15; butI prefer to employ steamfor this purpose. The pressure fluid is supplied from any suitablesource through a supply-pipe 17, which is provided with a three-wayvalve 18, from which a connection 19 leads to the upper end of thecylinder 15, an exhaust-pipe 20 being also connected to said three-wayvalve. The

three-way valve is of a well-known type, its

structure being such that in one of its positions the supply-pipe 17will be connected with the cylinder-pipe 19 to supply pressure to thecylinder, the exhaust 20 being closed, while in its other position thesupply-pipe 17 is closed, and the cylinder-pipe l9 is connected with theexhaust 20 to permit the pressure to escape from the cylinder. The valve18 is provided with an operating-lever 21, secured to the valve-stem 22to operate the valve,and to the free end of said operating lever or armthere is pivotally connected the upper end of a link 23, the lower endof which is pivoted to the free end of an arm 24:, secured on arockshaft 25, supported in suitable bearings on the frame 5. The arm 24is preferably provided with a plurality of apertures 26 for the pivotalconnectionof thelink 2 3, so that the parts may be so adjusted as togive the desired throw or range of movement to the arm or lever 21 andvalve 18 by reason of the adjustment thus provided. The rock-shaftcarries a tappet or contact arm 27, arranged in the path of the car soas to be struck thereby,.the arrangement being such that as theadvancing car strikes the said contact-arm it will so turn therock-shaft 25 that through the connecting parts 24, 23, and 21 the valve18 will be so turned as to admit pressure to the top of the cylinder 15above the piston 14 therein. The rock-shaft 25 is also provided with anarm 28, secured thereon at one end and connected by a link orconnecting-rod 29 with the lower end of a contact arm or tappet 30,mounted in bearings in the fixed track-section 1, its upper end being inthe, path of the car. The arrangement offthese parts is such that whenthe arm 30v is struck by the advancing car it willmove the rock-shaft 25back to its origi: nal position and will so move the valve 18 as tocutoff the pressure-supply and place the interior of the cylinder inconnection with the exhaust. It will be noticed that the arms 30 and 28are provided with a plurality of. pivot apertures, by means of which thethrow of the parts may be so adjusted as to give the desired rangeofmovement to the, three way valve.

The track section 3 is providednear its free or receiving end with astop to prevent any backward movement of the car after it has fullyentered the track-section. To this end the rails 31. of thetrack-section have mounted in them a rock-shaft 32, provided with astoparm 33, which extends upward in the path of the car-wheels-and whichis heldnormally in said upright position by means of an arm 34, Isecured on the rock-shaft 32 and carrying a to yield in a forwarddirection when struck by the car-wheels to permit the passage of theselatter. Guard plates 38 may be employed inside of the rails 31 to aid inpreventing derailment along this portion of the track.

The apparatus above described is shown in Fig. 2 as applied in a mine,the application being in duplicate. The track. for the loaded cars isindicatedat 39 and a hoisting-shaft-for the two cages at 40. Theapparatus which I have described is, arranged in duplicate adjacent tothe shafts 40, the part 4 of each track-section 3 being located'belowthe level of theloaded-car track 39 when-said tracksection 3 is in itslowered position, and consequently below the level of the track on thecage with which it cooperates when said cage is lowered in its shaft toa position with its track on a level withithe loaded-car track 39, so asto receive a loaded car. A short downwardly-inclined section of track 41extends from the position of the lowered cage to the end of the movabletrack-section 3, and it will be observed that the part 4 of thetrack-section 3 has a slight downward inclination in the direction oftravel of the car when in its lowered position. The fixed track-section1, which isjalso slightly inclined downwardly in the direction of theforward travel of the car, is located a considerable distance above theloaded-car track 39, so that the main portion of the movabletrack-section 3 extends upwardly in a considerably-inclined positionwhen said movable section isin-itslowered position, as shown by theposition of the nearest lift in Fig. 1. From the fixedtrack section 1there extends a downwardly-inclined track portion 42, which connectswithan upwardly-inclined portion 43, terminating-ma spring-buffer 44.

indicates a switch-track havingan automatic spring-switch46-located atthe lower end of the incline 43, said switch-.track45 constituting acontinuation of said incline 43, and the spring-switch being so arrangedas to permit the passage of the car; along the track 42 and 43 towardthe buffer 44, said switch serving to automatically divertthe car ontothe switch-track 45 with its return- -by gravity down the incline 43.1t-will=be understood that the switch-track 45 passes around the shaftand returns to-aco-nnection with-the track 39 at a point beyond .theloaded cars stored thereon. The arrangement is, as already stated, induplicate, since one; cage is descending while the other isascending.Assuming that a cage withanempty carthereon has descended and stopped atthe level of the loaded-car track 39, with which it cooperates, theloaded car on said track nearest the cage is pushedonto the cage, and bythis operation the empty car on said cage is-pushed off of the cage ontothe downwardly-inclined track 41. The empty carpasses downward alongthis track by gravity and passes onto the part 4 ofthemovabletrack-section3, which is depressed to receive it, the slightdownward inclination of said part 4 aid-ingin the forward movement ofthe car by gravity. Upon entering the lift the car-wheels pass over thestop-arm 33, which-yields5to permit their passage, but-which risesbehind them in such a way as to-p'revent the carfrom moving backwardfrom the lift, thus insuringits .being retained in position thereon. Asthe empty car moves along the track-section 3 it will come into contactwith the arm 27, and through the mechanism connected therewith will movethe valve 18 in the manner hereinbefore described, so as to admit steamto the I upper end of the cylinder above the piston the position of thefurther lift in Fig. 1. The

inclination of the movable track-section is now a downward-and-forwardone throughout, the

car having been lifted along with the free end of the track-section to aposition such that it will run down the same by gravity and onto thefixed track-section 1, the inclination of which will aid the advance ofthe car. Here the car comes into contact with the arm 30 and, swingingthe same over as it passes it, will, through the connecting mechanismdescribed, shift the valve 18 to a position such as to cut off thepressure-supply from the cylinder and connect its interior with theexhaust. The weight of the movable track-section will thereupon cause itto assume its original position as the pressure fluid escapes from thecylinder and the piston rises therein, the rate being controlled in anobvious manner by the extent of opening of the Valve 18. During thisoperation the empty car passes onward down the grade 42 and cast theswitch 46, being carried up the incline 43 by its inertia until itsadvance is arrested either by the spring-buffer or the exhaustion of itsimpulse. The empty car then returns down the w incline 43 and isdiverted by the switch 46 to the side track 45, down which it passes bygravity, returning around the shaft to a position back of the loadedcars onthe corresponding track 39, from which position it can be hauledback into the mine in the usual way to be again loaded.

It will be noted that the entire handling of the empty cars is purelyautomatic, the mere operation of placing the loaded car on the cagestarting the emptycar on its journey, throughout which it is handledwithout the intervention of the operator. I am thus enabled to dispensewith the services of the men and draft-animals usually employed tohandle these empty cars as theycome from the cages and return them tothe trackleading into the mine. It will be noted that the empty car asit advances not only puts into operation the power mechanism whereby thelift is raised to bring the car to the necessary higher level, but alsoserves to so operate said mechanism as to return the lift to its normallowered position, ready to receive the next empty car.

' The mechanism is in operation only during the time necessary to handleeach car and remalns stationary without consuming any power and withoutcauslng any wear of the parts until called upon to handle the next carupon its arrival. In order to regulate the height to which the movabletrack-section is lifted and at the same time preventcompression andvacuum in front of the piston and shock at the end of its effectivestroke, I have devised the construction which I will now describe. Thecylinder is closed at both ends, and in the side wall of the cylindernear its lower end there are formed a plurality of apertures 47,arranged at different heights therein, so as to be at differentdistances from the end of the cylinder. All of these apertures, with theexception of one, are closed by removable screw-plugs 48 or othersuitable closures. The one aperture which is not thus closed serves topermit the escape of the air in the cylinder in front of the piston whenthis latter descends, also serving to permit the entrance of air andprevent the formation of a vacuum when the piston rises. Furthermore,this aperture serves to provide a cushion to prevent shock at the end ofthe working stroke of the piston, since as soon as the forward end ofthe piston has passed beyond said aperture the air in the front of thepiston becomes compressed between it and the cylinder-head, therebyacting as a cushion or dash-pot to prevent shock. Furthermore, this openaperture serves to define the length of the stroke of the piston, andconsequently the height to which the car is lifted. The body of thepiston is of such a length that its rear or upper face passes beyond theupper edge of the aperture, so as to put the same into communicationwith the steam-space above the piston, and the steam is thus permittedto escape through said aperture, in consequence of which the advance ofthe piston ceases when said aperture is thus uncovered. Preferably theopen aperture is connected with the exhaust-pipe 20 by means of a pipe49, so that the steam thus escaping is conducted to the exhaust-pipe anddischarged atasuitable point. It will be un derstood that the pistonwill be thus held balanced as soon as the open aperture is uncovered,since further downward movement of the piston cannot occur for lack ofpressure, the steam escaping through the aperture, while upward movementof the piston is resisted by the steam as soon as the aperture isclosed. The piston is thus held at the end of its stroke until thethree-way valve is shifted and the steam permitted to escape from theupper end of the cylinder through the pipe 19. It will be readily seenthat any one of the apertures 47 may be left open, the others beingclosed, and in this way the stroke of the piston and the height of thelift may be regulated Without varying the length of the cylinder. ()fcourse the pipe 49 when it is used will be connected to the particularaperture which is thus left open. The same result may be obtained byforming a single aperture in the cylinder located at the point whichwill give the piston the desired stroke to suit the conditions of theparticular appa ratus in which the cylinder is used.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting raising and lowering theother endof said track-section, and controlling means actuated by thecar for causing said raising and lowering mechanism to raise the freeend of said track-section when the car enters the same and to lower saidend when the car leaves said section, substantially as described.

2. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, means for raisingand lowering the other end of said track-section, and controlling meansactuated by the car for causing said raising and lowering mechanism toraise the free end of said track-section when the car enters the sameand to lower said end when the car leaves said section, saidtrack-section having its receiving end inclined downward in thedirection of travel of the car when said section is in its loweredposition, substantially as described.

3. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a fluid-pressurecylinder provided with a piston connected with said track-section, avalve controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said cylinder, andcontact devices actuated by the car for shifting said valve to raise thetrack-section when the car enters the same and lower said section whenthe car leaves the same, substantially as described.

4:. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a pressurecylinderprovided with a piston, guide-pulleys located above the track-section,flexible connections between said piston and the tracksection passingover said guide-pulleys, a valve controlling the supply of pressurefluid to said cylinder, and contact devices actuated by the car forshifting said valve to lift the tracksection when the car enters thesame and to lower said section when the car leaves the same,substantially as described. I

5. A car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higher level,comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, an upright frame throughwhich the other end of said track-section passes, said. frame beingprovided with guideways and elevated pulleys, said track-section havinga cross-piece traveling in said guideways, chains connected to saidcross-piece and passing over said pulleys, a pressure-cylinder providedwith a piston and piston-rod to which said chains are connected, and avalve controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said cylinder,substantially as described.

6. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a pressurecylinderhaving a piston connected to said track-section, a three-way valvehaving connections with a pressure-supply, the cylinder, and an exhaust,and means actuated by the car for shifting said valve to connect thepressure supply and cylinder when the car enters the track-section, andfor shifting said valve to close the pressure-supply and connect thecylinder and exhaust when the car leaves the track-section,substantially as described.

7. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a pressurecylinderhaving a piston connected with said track-section to raise and lower thesame, a valve controlling the pressure-supply to said cylinder, arock-shaft connected with said valve to shift the same to either. itsraising or lowering position, and two contact-arms operatively connectedwith said rock-shaft and arranged in the path of the car at the entranceand exit of the track-section respectively, the former arm moving therock-shaft to shift the controlling-valve to its raising position andthe latter arm returning the rock-shaft and valve to their normallowering position,- substantially as described.

8. In an automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, a track-section pivoted at one end and providedwith means forraising and lowering its other end, said section being provided at saidother end with a stop-arm which permits the passage of the car in aforward direction and prevents its return in the opposite direction,substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a loaded-car track located on one side of ashaft, an empty-car track inclined downward from the shaft on theopposite side thereof, and a reverse incline beginning at a higher leveland comprising a switch-track passing around the shaft and having anautomatic or spring switch, of an automatic car-lift for raising theempty car from the bottom of the firstmentioned incline to a heightsufficient to cause it to ascend the reverse incline, said liftcomprising a track-section pivoted at one end and having its other endnormally level with the lower end of the first-mentioned incline, andautomatic mechanism controlled by the car for lifting the free end ofsaid tracksection to reverse its inclination when the car enters thesame and to restore said tracksection to its normal position when'thecar leaves the same, substantially as described.

10. An automatic car-lift for. lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a fluid-pressurecylinder closed at both ends and provided with a piston connected withsaid tracksection, a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of thepressure fluid to and from one end of said cylinder, and an openinglocated in the side of the cylinder at a distance from the other endgreater than the length of the piston, substantially as described.

11. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a fluid-pressurecylinder closed at both ends and provided with a piston connected withsaid tracksection, a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of thepressure fluid to and from one end of said cylinder, a plurality ofapertures formed through the side wall of the cylinder at difierentdistances from its otherend greater than the length of the piston, andmeans for closing all of said apertures except one, substantially asdescribed.

12. An automatic car-lift for lifting a car from a lower to a higherlevel, comprising a track-section pivoted at one end, a fluid-pressurecylinder closed at both ends and provided with a piston connected tosaid tracksection, a three-way valve, a supply-pipe and exhaust-pipeconnected to said valve, a cylinder-pipe connecting said valve and oneend of the cylinder, an opening formed through the side of the cylinderat a distance from its other end greater than the length of the piston,and a pipe connecting said opening with the exhaust-pipe, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GRANT HOLMES.

Witnesses:

FRANK W. PENWELL, GERTRUDE C. KooH.

